“The stamp has the map of the entire Philippine [EEZ] to its widest extent including Benham Rise along with other territorial claims. So tit for tat,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a Twiiter post August 6.

“We will be able to keep track of Chinese nationals entering via visa from our consulates in China or visas upon arrival (after shorter vetting period)—hitherto stamped on slips of paper no one could keep track of. Now visas stamped on permanent Chinese passports—so we know all,” Locsin said in another post.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that during the 40th Cabinet meeting held on August 5, “Secretary Locsin proposed to stamp the Philippine Visa on passports of Chinese nationals who wish to enter the country instead of the practice adapted before of placing it on a piece of paper.”

“This was approved by the President,” Panelo noted.

“Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra, on the other hand, said that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will be closely monitoring the stay of Chinese tourists in the country and will implement immigration measures should they exceed their allowable stay here,” Secretary Panelo added.

In 2012, the Philippines halted stamping Chinese passports in addition to “protest against the inclusion of the 9-dash line map in the Chinese e-passport which covers an area that is part of the Philippine territory and maritime domain.”